Articles
DISINFESTANTS FOR TREATING PRUNING SHEARS USED FOR FIRE BLIGHT INFECTIONS
Article number
217_42
Pages
243 – 244
Language
Abstract
The recent availability of pruning shears equipped with a semi-automated system for treating the cutting edges with a disinfestant (Felco 8P; Switzerland) prompted an investigation of possible disinfestants for use in the system.
Preliminary testing was done by dipping a scalpel in suspensions of Erwinia amylovora and then in one of three disinfestants: ethanol (70% v/v), isopropanol (70% v/v) and sodium hypochlorite (0.05% w/v). All the tested disinfestants reduced the number of colony forming units (cfu) of E. amylovora recoverable from 106 cfu/blade to less than 102 cfu/blade.
There were no detectable differences in the effects of the three materials.
Based on its efficacy, noncorrosive nature and wide availability, 70% ethanol was selected for further testing with the actual shear system.
Infected immature pear fruits, previously inoculated with E. amylovora, Ea 273, were cut with the pruning shears and then treated with 70% ethanol either by dipping for 2 seconds or by spraying the blades using the built-in sprayer.
Dipping the blades in ethanol resulted in a 10,000-fold reduction in recoverable E. amylovora; spraying resulted in a 100-fold reduction.
When fresh immature pear fruit were cut with contaminated shears, all developed infection.
Using the built-in sprayer, only 50% of the cut pear fruits became infected; dipping the shears in ethanol (70%) resulted in the complete elimination of effective inoculum.
Preliminary testing was done by dipping a scalpel in suspensions of Erwinia amylovora and then in one of three disinfestants: ethanol (70% v/v), isopropanol (70% v/v) and sodium hypochlorite (0.05% w/v). All the tested disinfestants reduced the number of colony forming units (cfu) of E. amylovora recoverable from 106 cfu/blade to less than 102 cfu/blade.
There were no detectable differences in the effects of the three materials.
Based on its efficacy, noncorrosive nature and wide availability, 70% ethanol was selected for further testing with the actual shear system.
Infected immature pear fruits, previously inoculated with E. amylovora, Ea 273, were cut with the pruning shears and then treated with 70% ethanol either by dipping for 2 seconds or by spraying the blades using the built-in sprayer.
Dipping the blades in ethanol resulted in a 10,000-fold reduction in recoverable E. amylovora; spraying resulted in a 100-fold reduction.
When fresh immature pear fruit were cut with contaminated shears, all developed infection.
Using the built-in sprayer, only 50% of the cut pear fruits became infected; dipping the shears in ethanol (70%) resulted in the complete elimination of effective inoculum.
Publication
Authors
S.V. Beer, J.R. Rundle
Keywords
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